Lachenalia jacq. f. ex Murray plant named ‘Radient’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct form of  Lachenalia  plant characterized by a bulb plant type having a spreading growth habit of a height of 15-30 centimetres (cm) and width of 10-15 cm having a purple flower with cream tips, and green leave with maroon spots, further characterized in that the spots are fairly pronounced in that it has a good contrast.

Genus and species: Lachenalia Jacq. f. ex Murray.

Variety denomination: ‘Radient’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lachenalia, botanically known as Lachenalia Jacq. f. ex Murray having the common name of Viooltjies/Cape cowslip and hereinafter referred to by its variety denomination ‘Radient’.

The variety was first cultivated in 2008 and originated by means of induced mutation at the premises of Agricultural Research Council Vegetable and Ornamental Plant Institute, Roodeplaat, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa.

Asexual reproduction of the ‘Radient’ plant at the same location has shown that the unique features thereof are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention constitutes a new and distinct variety of Lachenalia which originated from tissue culture as an induced mutation from the variety ‘Rupert’ as detailed hereinbelow and bred locally.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics, under the local evaluation conditions, of the ‘Radient’ plant. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Radient’ as a new and distinct Lachenalia cultivar:

-   -   1. Bulb plant type having a spreading growth habit of a height         of 15-30 centimetres (cm) and width of 10-15cm.     -   2. Flower color: purple (RHS #74C) with cream (RHS #8C) tips.     -   3. Leaf color: green (RHS #141C) with maroon (RHS #60A) spots.

Color references are made to The R.H.S. Color Chart, 1^(st) edition, 1966, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used or indicated otherwise.

Plants of the new Lachenalia variety ‘Radient’ can be compared to the denomination ‘Rupert’ but differs in that the flower color of ‘Radient’ is purple (RHS #74C) with cream (RHS #8C) tips compared to the purple only of ‘Rupert’. ‘Rupert’ furthermore has a more blue-purple color at the base of the flower. The maroon (RHS #60A) spots of the ‘Radient’ plant is furthermore more pronounced in that they have a good contrast compared to the low contrast found in ‘Rupert’.

Plants of the new Lachenalia variety ‘Radient’ can also be compared to similar denominations ‘Winsome’ and ‘Leipoldt’.

‘Winsome’ has pinkish flowers compared to the purple (RHS #74C) color of ‘Radient’ and the tips of the flowers of ‘Winsome’ are purple-pink compared to the cream (RHS #8C) tips of ‘Radient’. ‘Winsome’ has tubular flowers whilst the flowers of ‘Radient’ have spreading tips resulting in a denser appearance of the inflorescence of ‘Radient’.

‘Leipoldt’ has pink flowers with dark purple tips. Although the flowers of ‘Leipoldt’ also have spreading tips, the density of ‘Radient’ is better than that of ‘Leipoldt’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The first drawing illustrates the overall appearance of the ‘Radient’, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. The first drawing comprises a front perspective view of a typical ‘Radient’ grown in an indoor nursery, but located in an outdoor setting.

The second drawing illustrates the overall appearance of the ‘Radient’, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in color reproductions of this type. The second drawing comprises a front perspective view of a typical ‘Radient’ grown in an indoor nursery, but located in an outdoor setting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned drawings, following observations and measurements describe ‘Radient’ grown by the inventor on behalf of Agricultural Research Council Vegetable and Ornamental Plant Institute, Roodeplaat, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa. Thereafter ‘Radient’ was made subject of a South African Plant Breeders' Right application in March 2009. This application was granted in 2010 under number ZA20104395.

The plant is a late flowering cultivar and may be used for landscaping and should be planted during the month of March; indoors and in pots only. The plant should be kept at temperatures of 20-25 degrees Celsius during the day and 10-15 degrees Celsius at night. Plenty of light should be provided.

‘Radient’ is a mutant derived from the Lachenalia cultivar ‘Rupert’ through the use of irradiation. ‘Rupert’ is a hybrid-hybrid cross with the following species used in the hybrid crosses:

Female: [(L. orchioides subsp glaucina x L. bulbifera) selfed x (L. orchioides subsp glaucina x L. rubida) selfed]; and

Male parent: [(L. aloides var quadricolor x L. rubida) x (L. orchioides subsp glaucinax L. bulbifera)selfed].

‘Radient’ was originally produced from irradiated leaf explant material. A specific plant displaying the flower colour mutation was selected from 20,000 plantlets and thereafter asexually propagated. The asexual progeny of this selection is the cultivar ‘Radient’ and was multiplied via tissue culture at the premises of Agricultural Research Council Vegetable and Ornamental Plant Institute, Roodeplaat, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa.

The following characteristics of ‘Radient’ are described with reference to description of said characteristic which are comparable with the mentioned variety/ies having said similar characteristic.

-   Leaf: Monocolored.     -   -   Spots on upper side.—Present and with good contrast.

Variety having Description of similar Characteristic: ‘Radient’: characteristics: Attitude: Semi-erect ‘Romaud’ Length: Short to medium - 17.5 cm Width: Medium to wide - 5.8 cm Ratio: length/width Large ‘Rodelein’ (elongated): 3:1 Shape: Lanceolate ‘Rodelein’ Color: Green ‘Roinge’ (RHS #141C) Leaf color designation for Green (RHS lower sides of the leaf #141C) Shape in cross section: Angular ‘Robyn’, ‘Romelia’ Recurving of margin: Absent ‘Eliza’, ‘Rodelein’ Undulation of margin: Present ‘Elegant’, ‘Leipoldt’ Blistering and pubescence Absent ‘Rodelein’, ‘Rosabeth’ of upper side: Spots on upper side: Present (Maroon) ‘Bontrok’, ‘Roinge’, (RHS #60A) ‘Rosabeth’ Number of spots per leaf Amount differs from plant to plant, no exact number of spots per leaf Size of spots on upper Medium ‘Robyn’, ‘Roinge’ side: (2-3 millimeter (mm)) Density of spots on Medium ‘Roinge’, ‘Rosabeth’ upper side: Intensity of spots on upper Medium ‘Roline’, ‘Romelia’ side: Markings on outer side of Present ‘Roinge’, ‘Rozanne’ leaf base:

-   Peduncle:

Variety having Description of similar Characteristic: ‘Radient’: characteristics: Length: Short - 7.5 cm ‘Rolene’, ‘Romaud’ Peduncle color designation Purplish (RHS #53B) with green (RHS #141C) Spots or markings: Present ‘Bontrok’, ‘Rosabeth’ Coloration of peduncle spots Purplish (RHS #53B) Size of spots or markings: Medium ‘Robyn’ (1-2 mm) Density of spots or markings: Medium, close to ‘Robyn’ each other: spots may be as close as 0.2 mm, but may differ

-   Bud:

Characteristic: Description of ‘Radient’: Color Purplish (RHS #53B) with green (RHS #141C) tips

-   Inflorescense:

Variety having Description of similar Characteristic: ‘Radient’: characteristics: Length: Medium - 15.7 ‘Robyn’, ‘Roklara’ cm Rudimentary apex: Conspicuous ‘Ronette’ Number of flowers: Many ‘Romaud’, ‘Sonni’ (±40-50 flowers)

-   Flower:

Variety having Description of similar Characteristic: ‘Radient’: characteristics: Description of Inflorescence floral organ containing individual tubular flowers with spreading tips attached with pedicels to the peduncle Attitude: Horizontal ‘Robyn’, ‘Romargo’ Pedicel: Present ‘Romelia’ Length of pedicel: Short to medium (2-3 mm) Length of flower: Medium - 2.5 cm ‘Lizette’, ‘Rolene’, ‘Sonni’ Diameter Medium - 0.7 cm ‘Romargo’, ‘Romelia’, excluding apex: ‘Rosabeth’ Diameter at apex: Medium to large - 1.7 cm Attitude of distal part of inner Spreading ‘Rozanne’ perianth segments Glossiness: Absent Predominant color: Purple (RHS ‘Roklara’ #74C) with cream tips (RHS #8C) Intensity of predominant color: Medium to strong Outer perianth segment: color Violet-blue (RHS of basal part just before #-84A of RHS opening of flower color chart, 2^(nd) edition, 1986) Outer perianth segment: color Violet (RHS #87A of basal part of fully opened of RHS color flower chart, 2^(nd) edition, 1986) Outer perianth segment: color Clearly different ‘Ronette’ of apex relative to other part Outer perianth segment: color Yellow-green ‘Bontrok’, ‘Leipoldt’ of apex if clearly different (RHS #154A) ‘Roinge’ from other part Inner perianth segment: Present ‘Ronette’ distinct spot in middle of apex Inner perianth segment: color Clearly different ‘Louis’, ‘Roinge’ of margin of apex relative to other part Inner perianth segment: color Purple (RHS ‘Leipoldt’, ‘Louis’ of differently colored margin #78B) of apex Inner perianth segment: Yellow (beige) predominant color of exposed (RHS #4D of part (excluding differently RHS color chart, colored margin of apex) 2^(nd) edition, 1986) Length of inner perianth Longer ‘Roinge’, ‘Rosabeth’ segment compared to outer segments: Extrusion of stamens: Absent ‘Roinge’, ‘Rosabeth’ Fragrance: Present ‘Romaud’ Bulb: predominant shape: Oblate ‘Romaud’ Time of flowering: Medium - ‘Louis’, ‘Rozanne’ flowering time may vary from July to August (Southern Hemisphere) Duration of flowering: Long ‘Romelia’, ‘Rosabeth’ (2 months)

-   Others:

Characteristic: Description of ‘Radient’: Description of the bulb Cream/white (color designation - RHS including size and color of the #159C) bulb at maturity Size: between 1.5 to 2 cm in diameter Time of leaf growth/bud burst Starts within the first week of watering (normally March/April in Southern Hemisphere) A description of any fruit and No seed or fruit seed set Timing of leaf senescence After flowering has completed and starts to die down, the leaves start to die off (wheat color) and plant dry out (September-October in Southern Hemisphere)

The variety is not genetically modified and has been tested to be free of Ornithogalum Mosaic Virus. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Lachenalia plant named ‘Radient’ as illustrated and described herein. 